Major cuts in UK student visas on the cards

London, Nov 23 (PTI)
Buffeted by major funding cuts in the number of high-fee paying students from India and other non-European Union countries, British universities have lodged a strong protest against moves that are likely to seriously jeopardise their finances and international reputation.Home secretary Theresa May is this week is expected to announce a sharp reduction in the number of non-EU students that will be allowed to enter Britain for studies.
Many universities depend on income from international students to meet their costs.
The cut in student visas is prompted by the David Cameron's government intention to reduce immigration into Britain, and reports of large scale abuse of the student visas in the Indian sub-continent.
Current plans are likely to reduce the recruitment of non-EU staff and students to British universities.
Last week, the Home Office's Migration Advisory Committee said that up to 80 per cent of the reduction in net migration, which stood at about 196,000 cases last year, would have to be borne by students and family reunion cases.
The prediction was met with a chorus of protest from universities, which fear that the flow of students from outside the European Union will be affected, even if the government focuses its efforts on those studying on courses below degree level.

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